Zoning changes to keep dangerous materials further from residential areas

A massive fireball goes up from a blaze at Speedway International, northeast of Archibald and Marion in St. Boniface. Witnesses reported an explosion that shook the ground and firefighters issued an order for everyone, including fire crews, to move back. - (Boris Minkevich / Winnipeg Free Press)A truck tanker containing 75,000 litres of methanol caught fire and exploded, sending flames 800 metres into the sky. - (Christine Morin / Submitted photo)Fire officials estimated there was upwards of 400,000 litres of explosive chemicals on site, including methanol and diesel fuel. - (Sylvia Froese / Submitted Photo)Two railcars adjacent to the building each contained 100,000 litres of fuel -- one with biodiesel and one with methanol -- raising concerns about further explosions. - (Glenn Schmidt / Submitted Photo)After the explosion, about 55 firefighters went into "defensive mode" and established a perimeter to close off access to the blaze and keep any curious onlookers from getting too close. - (Diane Hammerling / Submitted Photo)Homes within an 800-metre radius of the business were evacuated. Residents were allowed to return home around 1 a.m.The Speedway International fire as seen from Osborne Village. - (Melissa Tait / Winnipeg Free Press)Smoke billows from the scene. - ( Andrea Stutski / Submitted photo)The fire is seen from across the Red River, behind the St. Boniface Cathedral. - (Luc Labelle / Submitted photo)Smoke from the fire was visible across the city.Smoke from the fire is seen from the Esplanade Riel pedestrian bridge over the Red River. - (Luc Labelle / Submitted photo)Smoke from the fire is seen from a balcony on Osborne Street. - (Doug Cross / Submitted photo)Onlookers watch from a distance as a fire burns. - (Trevor Hagan / The Canadian Press)Onlookers watch the fire from a distance. - (Boris Minkevich / Winnipeg Free Press)The fire seen from Osborne Village.The fire in the St. Boniface-area industrial park is seen as night begins to fall. - (Boris Minkevich / Winnipeg Free Press)Smoke from the fire is seen at sunset from the Lagimodiere bridge. - (Bill Rademaker / Submitted photo)The fire in the St. Boniface-area industrial park is seen after dark. - (Boris Minkevich / Winnipeg Free Press) - (Boris Minkevich / Winnipeg Free Press)The fire seen from Westview Park - (Kevin Wolk / Submitted photo)Firefighters continue battling the blaze after dark. - (Diane Hammerling / Submitted Photo)The fire as seen from Westview Park - (Kevin Wolk / Submitted photo)Wpg Fire investigators are on scene checking out 4 tanker rail cars and a tanker truck at the scene of last evenings fire. Fire aftermath from a large fire that destroyed Speedway International at Nicholas Ave near Marion St. KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS / OCT. 2 2012 - (KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)Wpg Fire investigators are on scene checking out 4 tanker rail cars and a tanker truck at the scene of last evenings fire. Fire aftermath from a large fire that destroyed Speedway International at Nicholas Ave near Marion St. KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS / OCT. 2 2012 - (KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)Wpg Fire investigators are on scene checking out 4 tanker rail cars and a tanker truck at the scene of last evenings fire. Fire aftermath from a large fire that destroyed Speedway International at Nicholas Ave near Marion St. KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS / OCT. 2 2012 - (KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Hey there, time traveller!This article was published 1/10/2013 (1164 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Winnipeg plans to isolate industrial users with environmental licences from residential neighbourhoods.

Public works chair Coun. Dan Vandal said the zoning changes are the result of the massive fire a year ago at Speedway International, located on Nicholas Avenue in the St. Boniface Industrial Park, near the intersection of Marion Avenue and Rue Archibald.

Onlookers watch a fireball rise from Speedway International, a company that was storing biofuel, in 2012.

The fire of biodiesel and racing fuel at the business on Oct. 1, 2012, sent black clouds and fireballs into the late afternoon and early evening sky.

Nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution.

Vandal (St. Boniface) said he remains disappointed that civic staff were unaware of the dangerous materials stored at Speedway International.

A report will be released next week, Vandal said, that will change the zoning rules for industrial users which operate with volatile and dangerous materials.

The report is the result of a year-long effort by the planning department to isolate such industrial firms from residential neighbourhoods.

"I’ve asked the planning department to look at an area plan to put distances between those uses and area residents and that’s coming forward next week," Vandal said. "It’s not something that’s going to happen within one or two months but we need to start a planning process to putting distances between heavy industrial uses with environmental licenses and residents."

Vandal said Speedway International may have begun rebuilding but the company will not be allowed to store the same fuel that was the source of last year’s fire.

Vandal said a separate report was being prepared by the Winnipeg Fire Department and the Office of the Fire Commissioner to improve monitoring of such industrial operations, but he added he didn’t know when that report would be released.

"I was disappointed to hear last year that our department was not aware what was at Speedway," Vandal said. "I know this has really affected the neighbourhood and certainly the politicians and the administration.

"I’m confident (a year later) that our administration is on top of industrial uses."

History

Updated on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 12:57 PM CDT: adds video

4:35 PM: Speedway International is located on Nicholas Avenue.

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